Fairchild Air Force Base
Fairchild Air Force Base, WA
Known Toxins19
Years of Operation1942-Present
Base Background
Fairchild Air Force Base was established in 1942 as Spokane Army Air Depot, serving as a critical repair and supply depot during World War II. Today, the base hosts the 92nd Air Refueling Wing , the 141st Air Refueling Wing, and the 336th Training Group. The base has been identified as a Superfund site by the Environmental Protection Agency due to significant contamination.
Toxic Exposure at Fairchild AFB
Fairchild AFB has a long history of contamination, with multiple toxic substances identified over the years in the soil and groundwater, including PFAS and TCE. Veterans and family members who lived at Fairchild Air Force Base after 1967 are likely to have been exposed to contaminated water.
PFAS Contamination
From the 1970s until 2016, the Air Force regularly used AFFF (Aqueous Film Forming Foam) containing PFOS and PFOA for firefighting and training exercises. By August 2016, the Air Force began replacing PFOS-based and legacy AFFF products with new, more environmentally responsible formulas.
In 2017, monitoring for PFAS began at Fairchild AFB, confirming contamination in wells. PFAS had leached into the soil and contaminated groundwater both on-base and in surrounding communities.
Airway Heights Water Contamination
In 2017, Fairchild AFB acknowledged responsibility for widespread drinking water contamination in Airway Heights, northeast of the base. In 2019, the CDC and ATSDR conducted research in Airway Heights as part of a nationwide study to assess public exposure to PFAS and related health effects. Tests revealed that levels of some PFAS in the blood of Airway Heights residents were up to 56 times higher than national levels – potentially linked to drinking water contamination.
PFAS are linked to serious medical conditions, including cancer and other diseases that may take decades to develop after exposure. If you developed related health issues after living or working at the base, you may be eligible for compensation. Get a free case evaluation here to explore your legal options.
Known Toxins
The following chart outlines the medical conditions associated with toxic exposure at this base, classified by the strength of evidence required (strong, good or limited).* Please keep in mind that it is not a complete list.
| Toxin | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong | Good | Limited | ||
| 1,2-dichloroethylene | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | - | - | - |
| Benzene | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | Myelodysplastic syndrome Multiple myeloma... Aplastic anemia |
Scleroderma Renal (kidney) cancer... Preterm delivery Menstrual disorders Lymphoma non Hodgkin's Autoimmune antibodies, positive ANA Arrhythmias |
Peripheral neuropathy Neural tube defects/CNS malformations... Nasopharyngeal/SinoNasal cancer Lung cancer Immune suppression Hepatocellular cancer (Liver cancer) Cardiac congenital malformations Breast cancer Brain cancer adult Asthma irritant |
| Cadmium | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | Renal stones Osteoporosis... Itaiitai disease Chronic renal disease Acute tubular necrosis |
Reduced Fertility Male (infertility and subfertility) Prostate cancer... Pneumonia Nephrotic syndrome COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Cardiomyopathy Anemia hemolytic |
Testicular cancer Soft tissue sarcoma... Renal (kidney) cancer Pulmonary fibrosis Pulmonary edema Peripheral neuropathy Pancreatic cancer Oral clefts (cleft lip and palate) Neural tube defects/CNS malformations Metal fume fever Menstrual disorders Immune suppression Hypoactivity Hypertension Genitourinary malformations (includes cryptorchidism, hypospadias) Decreased I.Q../Mental retardation Congenital malformation Cranio Facial Cognitive impairment (includes impaired learning, impaired memory, and decreased attention span) Brain cancer adult Autoimmune antibodies, positive ANA Arrhythmias ADD/ADHD, hyperactivity Abnormal sperm (morphology, motility, and sperm count) |
| Carbon tetrachloride | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | Steatosis (fatty liver) Cirrhosis... Acute tubular necrosis Acute hepatocellular injury (Hepatitis) |
Scleroderma Porphyria toxic... Lymphoma non Hodgkin's Childhood Leukemias Autoimmune antibodies, positive ANA Arrhythmias Aplastic anemia Adult-Onset Leukemias |
Renal (kidney) cancer Pancreatitis... Pancreatic cancer Oral clefts (cleft lip and palate) Nephrotic syndrome Melanoma Low birth weight/Small for Gestational Age Immune suppression Hepatocellular cancer (Liver cancer) Brain cancer adult |
| Chloroethene | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | - | - | - |
| Chromium | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | Skin ulceration Parkinson's disease/Movement disorders... Nasopharyngeal/SinoNasal cancer Nasal septal perforation Nasal polyps Cholestasis Bronchitis acute Asthma allergic |
Stomach cancer Pulmonary fibrosis... Psychiatric disturbances Pneumonitis hypersensitivity Pneumonia Photosensitivity Peripheral neuropathy Decreased Coordination/ Dysequilibrium COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Chronic renal disease Bronchitis acute Brain cancer adult ADD/ADHD, hyperactivity Acute tubular necrosis |
Soft tissue sarcoma Skeletal malformations... Renal (kidney) cancer Reduced Fertility Male (infertility and subfertility) Prostate cancer Peripheral neuropathy Pancreatic cancer Neurosthenia (Organic affective syndrome) Neural tube defects/CNS malformations Metal fume fever Immune suppression Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion; stillbirth) Esophageal cancer Erectile dysfunction Delayed growth COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Cognitive impairment (includes impaired learning, impaired memory, and decreased attention span) Bladder cancer Autoimmune antibodies, positive ANA Arrhythmias Adult-Onset Leukemias Abnormal sperm (morphology, motility, and sperm count) |
| Diesel Fuel | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | - | - | - |
| Ethylbenzene | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | - | - | - |
| Lead | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | Seizures Reduced Fertility Male (infertility and subfertility)... Peripheral neuropathy Hypertension Gout Developmental Delay Decreased I.Q../Mental retardation Decreased Coordination/ Dysequilibrium Coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, atherosclerosis Cognitive impairment (includes impaired learning, impaired memory, and decreased attention span) Chronic renal disease Behavioral problems Anemia hemolytic ADD/ADHD, hyperactivity Abnormal sperm (morphology, motility, and sperm count) |
Reduced Fertility Female (infertility and subfertility) Psychiatric disturbances... Preterm delivery Porphyria toxic Pancreatic cancer Nephrotic syndrome Low birth weight/Small for Gestational Age Immune suppression Hearing loss Glomerulonephritis Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion; stillbirth) Delayed growth Cardiomyopathy Arrhythmias Altered time to sexual maturation (accelerated or delayed puberty) |
Wilm's Tumor Uterine cancer... Thyroid disorders Hypothyroidism Stomach cancer Reduced Fertility Male (infertility and subfertility) Osteoporosis Neurosthenia (Organic affective syndrome) Lung cancer Hepatocellular cancer (Liver cancer) Erectile dysfunction Diabetes Type II Congenital malformation Cranio Facial Colorectal cancer Carcinoid Breast cancer Brain cancer adult Bladder cancer Alzheimer's Altered time to sexual maturation (accelerated or delayed puberty) ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) Abnormal sperm (morphology, motility, and sperm count) |
| Mercury | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | Peripheral neuropathy Hearing loss... Behavioral problems Acute tubular necrosis |
Low birth weight/Small for Gestational Age Immune suppression... Hormonal changes (levels of circulating sex hormones FSH/LH, Inhibin, and/or estrogens, progesterones, and androgens) Glomerulonephritis Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion; stillbirth) Congenital malformations general Chronic renal disease Autoimmune antibodies, positive ANA Aplastic anemia Anemia hemolytic |
Thyroid disorders Hypothyroidism Scleroderma... Reduced Fertility Female (infertility and subfertility) Reduced Fertility Male (infertility and subfertility) Neurosthenia (Organic affective syndrome) Nephrotic syndrome Myocardial ischemia Menstrual disorders Coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, atherosclerosis |
| Petroleum | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | - | - | Multiple myeloma Laryngeal cancer |
| Semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | - | - | - |
| Silver | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | - | - | Chronic renal disease |
| Tetrachloroethene (PERC) | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | - | - | - |
| Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPE) | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | - | - | - |
| Trichloroethanes | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | - | - | Hormonal changes (levels of circulating sex hormones FSH/LH, Inhibin, and/or estrogens, progesterones, and androgens) |
| Trichloroethylene (TCE) | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | Acute hepatocellular injury (Hepatitis) |
Scleroderma Renal (kidney) cancer... Psychiatric disturbances Lymphoma non Hodgkin's Hepatocellular cancer (Liver cancer) Fetotoxicity (Miscarriage/spontaneous abortion; stillbirth) Decreased Coordination/ Dysequilibrium Cirrhosis Childhood Leukemias Cardiac congenital malformations Autoimmune antibodies, positive ANA Arrhythmias |
Trigeminal neuropathy Testicular cancer... Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Raynaud's phenomenon Prostate cancer Peripheral neuropathy Pancreatitis Pancreatic cancer Oral clefts (cleft lip and palate) Neural tube defects/CNS malformations Nephrotic syndrome Multiple myeloma Lung cancer Low birth weight/Small for Gestational Age Immune suppression Hodgkin's Disease (lymphoma) Genitourinary malformations (includes cryptorchidism, hypospadias) Cognitive impairment (includes impaired learning, impaired memory, and decreased attention span) Choanal atresia Cervical cancer Brain cancer adult Adult-Onset Leukemias ADD/ADHD, hyperactivity Acute tubular necrosis |
| Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | Rhinitis irritant |
- | - |
| Zinc | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | Skin ulceration |
- | Testicular cancer |
*Effects are according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry unless otherwise noted.
Fairchild AFB VA Claims and Lawsuits
The personnel who were stationed or worked at Fairchild Air Force Base and developed health conditions associated with toxic exposure may be entitled to disability compensation and other veteran benefits. Affected individuals should:
- Document their time at Fairchild AFB with military records
- Gather medical evidence connecting their health conditions to toxic exposure
- Obtain expert medical opinions establishing a link between their conditions and the known toxins
- File a VA disability claim or pursue litigation
To win your case, you may need assistance interpreting complex medical and scientific evidence, addressing VA denials and ensuring all deadlines are met for claims or lawsuits. An experienced Washington VA disability lawyer can fight on your behalf and maximize compensation.